Rob Weiss, perhaps best known for his screenwriting in Entourage, also co-producer of the movie American Psycho, collaborated with Davidoff and Camacho to release the BG Meyer Standard Issue. The Standard Issue was released at the 2014 IPCPR. It received rave reviews by Cigar Aficionado along with a number of online cigar blogs. I had the opportunity to sample the Slackers version of this cigar late last year and felt that is was a decent short smoke. The Slacker is a 4×48 vitola and are available in a tin Box with 4 to a box.
BG Meyer Standard Issue
The BG Meyer Standard Issue is available in 5 other vitolas
- Robusto 5 x5 0
- Toro 6 x 50
- Figurado
6,1 x 54 - Gordo 6 x 60
- Churchill 7 x 48
I decided to try the 6×60 Gordo and see what all the rave was about. I picked this one up at one of my local Brick and Mortar shops.
Examining the BG Meyer Standard Issue, you notice that it is a cigar that is bold in construction and packaging. It has a large outer sleeve that covers most of the cigar, similar to the Camacho cigars. Only this is not colored but rather translucent in color with the following words imprinted on it:
The breadth of a man’s spirit rests in his passion for adventure. A life of merit is not measured by accomplishments, but rather the road traveled to get there. Forging your own path. Embracing the unknown in search of meaning, excitement, fulfillment. Those searching for an epiphany and the freedom found along the way. The B.G. Meyer company celebrates this journey. Your journey.”
There is also a foot band that states “Standard Issue” and the primary band that has the BG Meyer logo imprinted in gold on a black background.
The cigar itself has a chocolate brown Nicaraguan habano wrapper with some prominent veins. The Binder is also Nicaraguan and the filler is a Nicaraguan blend from Esteli, Jalapa and Ometepe. It looks and feels like this will be an outstanding smoke and from what I have read up on it, many others think so too.
So I give it a pre-light sniff and there is not much of a scent that I can detect. So I give it a cut, slicing off the cap and roll it between my lips. There is a touch of sweetness that I pick up prior to torching it. If you have read my past articles on big ring gauge cigars I am always bit nervous about how they will burn.
I torched the foot and got less than a full mouthful of smoke, It seemed to be slightly restricted so I puffed away hoping it will open up some more. It took some time, perhaps a good half inch, before my palate was experiencing a proper level of smoke to appreciate.
There were notes of wood and leather to start. I later learned that there is not much more to the cigar as it burned through its stages. I did pick up a subtle note of cocoa at one point and the start of the 2nd third gave me a chalky taste on the palate. I don’t know about you, maybe you like that flavor, but I don’t.
The burn itself was less than expected for all the hype that was surrounding the BG Meyer Standard Issue. It actually required numerous touch ups along the way making the smoking experience less than enjoyable. In fact the Slacker burned much better than this. Near the middle of the burn there was a touch of bitterness that came in and it lingered for some time which was adding to my disappointment of this smoke.
The strength of the BG Meyer Standard Issue is medium at best, it did have a slight creep up the scale near the final third, but not something I would consider to be full. Speaking of the final third, the wrapper started to crack making it even more difficult to enjoy.
I have to admit, the blend on this was one I expected more from, especially with the Ometepe leaf, but perhaps that was not a primary ingredient in the blend.
I am here to say, I can not stand strong with the other bloggers on the BG Meyer Standard Issue and for the money this should have been a far better stogie.
– Boston Jimmie